Lebanese White Coffee: The Caffeine-Free Orange Blossom Drink
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Order a “white coffee” after dinner in a Lebanese home and you may be handed a small cup of something completely clear. No beans, no grounds, no caffeine: just hot water perfumed with orange blossom water and, if you like, a little sugar or honey. It is called ahweh bayda, literally “white coffee,” and it is offered in place of the usual strong coffee for people who want to skip caffeine at the end of a meal.
If you want to know how to make Lebanese white coffee, it takes two minutes and two ingredients. The only real skill is getting the strength right, because orange blossom water is powerful. Here is the method, the ratios, and what to do if your first cup tastes like perfume.
Key takeaways
- Lebanese white coffee is hot water with a small amount of orange blossom water, optionally sweetened. It contains no coffee and no caffeine.
- It is traditionally served after a meal instead of Turkish-style coffee.
- Start with ½ teaspoon of orange blossom water per small cup and adjust; a full teaspoon is strong for many people.
- It is a different drink from Malaysian white coffee or “white” lightly roasted coffee beans.
In this article
- What is Lebanese white coffee?
- How to make Lebanese white coffee
- Getting the strength right
- Variations
- Not to be confused with other “white coffees”
- FAQ
What is Lebanese white coffee?
The name sounds like a riddle, and in a way it is one. In Lebanon and the wider Levant, coffee is part of hospitality: a small cup of strong, cardamom-scented coffee often closes a meal or welcomes a guest. White coffee keeps that ritual and the cup, but removes the caffeine. It is the drink you offer the guest who would rather sleep tonight, or the one who feels too full after a large meal.
The ingredient doing all the work is orange blossom water, a fragrant distillate of orange flowers used across Middle Eastern and Mediterranean kitchens in pastries, syrups, puddings and drinks. In a cup of hot water it releases a floral, honeyed, faintly bitter citrus aroma that feels surprisingly soothing.
In family kitchens, white coffee is also an old remedy: many people grew up being given a cup for a sore stomach, and it is widely described as a digestive after a heavy meal. Treat that as tradition rather than proven medicine; there is little research on it as a drink.
How to make Lebanese white coffee
Ingredients (1 small cup)
| Ingredient | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 2–3 fl oz | 60–90 ml |
| Orange blossom water | ½–1 tsp | 2.5–5 ml |
| Sugar or honey (optional) | ½–1 tsp | 2–7 g |
Method
- Measure the orange blossom water into a small demitasse or espresso cup. Start with ½ teaspoon.
- Boil the water. If you want it sweet, stir the sugar into the hot water in the pot or kettle until it dissolves.
- Pour the hot water over the orange blossom water in the cup. Adding the hot water last lets the aroma bloom right under your nose.
- Taste and adjust: a few more drops for more perfume, a splash of hot water if it is too strong.
- Serve immediately, ideally in the same small cups you would use for Arabic or Turkish coffee.
For a pot to serve four, use about 1½ cups (360 ml) water and 2 teaspoons (10 ml) orange blossom water, then adjust to taste.
Getting the strength right
The most common mistake is too much orange blossom water. Brands vary a lot in intensity, and a heavy hand makes the drink taste soapy or like perfume. Use this quick guide:
| Per 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) water | Result | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ tsp | Delicate, barely floral | First-timers, children’s version |
| ½ tsp | Clearly floral, balanced | Most people; the best starting point |
| 1 tsp | Intense, very perfumed | Those who already love orange blossom |
Two more tips: buy orange blossom water from a Middle Eastern grocer or the baking aisle, not orange extract or orange oil, which taste completely different. And keep the bottle tightly closed and away from heat so the aroma lasts.
Variations
- Honey white coffee: swap sugar for a mild honey, stirred in at the end so the flavor stays bright.
- Iced white coffee: dissolve sugar in a little hot water, add cold water and a splash of orange blossom water, then pour over ice with a strip of orange peel. Refreshing on a summer evening.
- Rose and orange: use half orange blossom water and half rose water for a more floral cup.
- With a herbal base: add a few drops of orange blossom water to a cup of chamomile instead of plain water for a softer, rounder drink.
Not to be confused with other “white coffees”
“White coffee” means very different things depending on where you are:
| Name | Where | What it is | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanese white coffee (ahweh bayda) | Lebanon, Levant | Hot water and orange blossom water | None |
| Ipoh white coffee | Malaysia | Real coffee from beans roasted with fat, served with condensed milk | Yes |
| “White” lightly roasted beans | Some US cafés | Coffee roasted very lightly, pale and nutty | Yes |
| “A white coffee” | UK, Australia | Any coffee with milk | Yes |
If you are curious about the Malaysian version, read our guide to Ipoh white coffee. And for the strong, cardamom-spiced coffee that white coffee replaces at the table, see Arabic coffee (gahwa).
More caffeine-free cups for after dinner
White coffee is part of a broader idea worth borrowing: end the meal with a warm, fragrant cup that will not keep you up. If you like floral and gentle flavors, our Chamomile Ginger herbal tea pairs floral chamomile with warming ginger and a clean lemon finish, all caffeine-free. Peach Paradise is a fruity caffeine-free herbal blend of peach, cranberry and soft rose. And if you still want real coffee at night, a water-process decaf like our Peru Decaf keeps the ritual with far less caffeine. Browse more in our tea collection.
Lebanese white coffee FAQ
Does Lebanese white coffee have caffeine?
No. It contains no coffee beans at all, only hot water, orange blossom water and optional sweetener, so it is naturally caffeine-free.
Why is it called coffee if there is no coffee in it?
Because it takes coffee’s place in the ritual: the same small cup, served at the same moment after a meal. “White” refers to its clear color compared with dark coffee.
What does Lebanese white coffee taste like?
Warm, floral and lightly citrusy, a bit like smelling orange blossoms with a hint of bitterness. Sweetened, it tastes gently honeyed.
Can I add orange blossom water to real coffee?
Yes, a few drops in a cup of black coffee or Arabic coffee add a lovely floral note. Use very little, since its aroma is strong.
When should I drink it?
Traditionally after lunch or dinner, but it works any time you want a warm, caffeine-free drink.
Sources
- “Lebanese White Coffee Contains No Coffee At All. This Is What It’s Made Of,” Chowhound, 2024. chowhound.com
- “White Coffee (Ahweh Bayda),” Taste of Beirut. tasteofbeirut.com
Facts checked in October 2026.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or take medication, ask your doctor before changing your caffeine intake.
Keep reading: Arabic Coffee (Gahwa) · Ipoh White Coffee · Tea collection